Combination airship and airplane



Feb. 2@, 1923. 1,446,334.

W. F. CARTER. COMBINATION AIRSHIP AND AIRPLANE.

FILED ocr. 11, 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Feb. 20, 1923.

W. F. CARTER. COMBINATION AIRSHIP AND AIRPLANE.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- FILED 0CT.H,1921.

Patented Feb. 26, 1923.

STATES WILLIAM FRANKLIN CARTER, 0F PRESCOTT, KANSAS.

COMBINATION AIRSHIP AND AIRPLANE.

Application filed October 11,1921. Serial No. 507,135.

To all whom 1' t may co'n 06'1"?! Be it known that I, \Vxnmau FRANKLIN- CARTER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Prescott, in the county of Linn, State of Kansas, have invented a newand useful Combination Airship and Airplane, of which the following is a specification and description.

My invention relates to improvements in flying machines, particularly to that type known in the art as helicopters.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of the character described, in which the substaining .planes are provided with means whereby they are moved with respect to the operating platform of the machine and that the axis of the said planes may be adjusted to regulate the ascent, travel, and descent of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide automatic means for increasing theair resistance as the machine descends.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the character described having means whereby the. same may settle freely upon land or sea, without injury to its structure or passengers.

With these further objects in view I have provided a flying machineembodying novel features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts such as those described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the machine showing the planes and lifting means arranged in a vertical position.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine showing the planes and propelling means arranged in a horizontal position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 14 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the means for increasing the resistance on the downward movement. of the machine.

Figure 6 is a topplan view of thesame.

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view of the same.

Figure 8 is a detailed view of the shaft for supporting the planes, and

Figure 9 is a detailed view of the means for locking the planes in a predetermined position.

Referring to the drawings, in which sinn-v lar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a suitable plat-form of the machine having arranged on itsunder portion an air inflated float 2 while on its upper portion affords a passenger seat 3, the same being surrounded by a protecting railing 4:. In order to reduce the resistance of the machine in its upward movement the platform 1 is provided with a centralopening the same having arranged therein a protecting network, 5.

Arranged on the upper portion of the platform 1 and extending vertically thereto are spaced uprights (Sand 7, the upper ends of which have rotatably mounted therein a shaft 8, as disclosed in the Fig. 8, the outer ends of which have secured thereto suitable sustaining planes 9.

The shaft 8 on its intermediate portion, that between the uprights 6 and 7 has movably mountedthereon a platform 10 upon which is mounted a cylindrical casing 10 the end of which, adjacent the shaft is open while the outer end is provided with automatic closing means which will be further described hereinafter.

The outer end of the casing 10 has therein a bar 11 through the central portion of which passes the propeller carrying shaft 12, the same being operated by a suitable motor, as designated at A, mounted upon the platform 10 in any suitable manner.

The casing 10 has further provided thereon an arm 13 within which is mounted an oscillating shaft 14 the lower end of which is journaled on the platform 10, the upper end of which carries a suitable guiding rudder 15. The shaft 14 is provided with an operating lever 16 by which the lever 15may be moved so as to direct the machine in its travel.

In order that the sustaining planes may be held in any desired position I have provided on the upper end of the upright 6 a ratchet which is adapted to be engaged by a lever 18 the end of which is pivotally mounted upon a squared portion of the shaft 8, adjacent the upright 6. The lever 18 carrying a plate adapted to engage the ratchetl? when the latter is swung upon its pivot.

In order that the axis of the propeller may be varied with respect to the sustaining planes and platform I have provided a similar locking element bn the upright 7 as indicated at 19 the same beingengaged by a lever pivoted to the platform 10 in any I suitable manner and carrying an element adapted to engage the ratchet 19.

As previously referred to the upper end of the cylinder 10 is provided with a pair of hinged doors 21 and 22 hinged to the cross bar 11, in such a manner-that they Will open as themachine moves upwardly thus reduoing the air resistance and close as the machine descends, thereby increasing the air resistance.

Briefly stated the operation of the machine is as follows:

To control the ascent of the machine, I have, as heretofore described, pivotally mounted the shaft carrying the planes in sucha manner so the planes may be swung to a position as that indicated in Figure 2 and as also previously described, similar operating means whereby the propeller may be oscillated upon the shaft 8until it assumes a position similar to that indicated in Fig. 2. When in this position it is evident that as the propeller rotates the machine is caused to move vertically. WVhen the same has reached the proper height the planes, together with the propeller, are swung to the position, by the levers 18 and 20, until they assume the position similar to that indicated in Fig. 3 which will thus direct the machine in a horizontal line of travel. As the ma chine moves upwardly the doors 20 and 21 wil-l open thereby reducing the air resistance and due to the fact that the platform 1 is provided with an air pa$age the resistance of the machine is further reduced as it moves upwardly.

as the machine moves downwardly the doors 21 and 22 close thereby increasing the air resistance and retarding the downward movement of the machine.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a flying machine, the combination of a platform and supports rising therefrom, a shaft revolubly mounted upon said supports, wings carried by the ends of sail shaft, means for holding said wings at any angle with respect to said platform, an en gine support mounted upon said shaft and between said supports, a propeller mounted upon said engine support and driven by said engine, and means for holding the engine support at any angle with respect to said platform and wings.

' 2. In a flying machine, the combination of a platform and supports rising therefrom a shaft revolubly mounted upon said supports, wings carried by the ends of said shaft, means for holding said wings at anyangle with respect to said platform, an engine supportmounted upon said shaft and between said supports, a propeller mounted upon said engine support and driven by said engine, means for holding the engine support at any angle with respect to said wings and means carried by the platform for increasing or decreasing the air resistance upon the descent or ascent of the machine.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN CARTER. 

